EA Sports FC 24 How to defend
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Offense is only half the game in EA Sports FC 24, formerly known as FIFA. Depending on how the possession game goes, you could be defending frequently. If that’s the case, or if you ever find yourself in defending scenarios, it’s good to know what you’re doing. The goalkeeper, unless you are playing as the keeper in a player Career Mode, will automatically try and defend shots, but you can control all of the other defenders. Here’s how to use them.
If you’re interested in reading more about EA Sports FC 24, be sure to check out whether or not you can play the World Cup, if the game is crossplay or not, and see the top-rated players.
How do I defend in EA Sports FC 24?
Defending in EA Sports FC 24 happens every single time you don’t have the ball. If your opponent has possession, you are on defense. You can jockey for possession on a ball in the air, but if you don’t have it, you’re on defense.
If so, you need to be able to shut down the offense. Your defenders will stay in their zones unless they are being manually controlled. When you get near an offensive player with the ball, be it a striker, forward, or a midfielder, your objective is to get the ball from them.
There are two ways to defend any situation. You can stay off and close off the passing lanes or stay in front and try to take the ball away. The former is wise if the player is out wide and not a real scoring risk. The latter tactic is better for when they’re in the middle of the field or in front of goal.
If you’re doing the latter, you have to be precise. If you play it wrong, your opponent will likely get past you and set up a real scoring chance. When you’re close enough, push the B button on Xbox or circle on PlayStation.
This will lunge at the ball. It’s a safer defensive tactic. If you time it right and aim correctly, you’ll effectively step in and punch the ball away. You can then go retrieve it and start a counter-attack. It’s safer because if you miss, you’re still able to sprint back and try and defend further.
The alternative is to try a slide tackle, but this is aggressive and risky. If you do it wrong, it’s a foul. If you miss, the offensive player will leave you in the dust. To avoid fouling, you must hit the ball before the player. This is the X button on Xbox and Square on PlayStation.
If successful, you’ll take out the player and be able to steal the ball with ease. If you find yourself defending the passing lanes, you need to be alert. Be sure to jockey with your defender by holding the left trigger (LT or L2) on your controller. This keeps you facing the offensive player.
As soon as a ball is rolled in your area, you need to assess how far away it is. If it’s close enough, you can press the B button on Xbox and lunge towards it to try and intercept the pass. If it’s too far away, you may need to slide tackle to deflect the ball.
If you are in the box and manage to win possession back, you need to be able to think quickly. You need to move the ball, so quickly assess if any teammate is open outside the box for you to do a normal pass to. Things happen at high speed, so you have to decide quickly.
If not, you need to clear the ball. The B button, or the shoot button, is how to send the ball far away. X on Xbox and Square on PS5 or PS4 will do a lob pass down the field, so it can clear your line as well.
Defending is most commonly done by the right back (RB), center back (CB), left back (LB), or some variation of that position. Defensive midfielders also defend frequently.
Fans of football will be able to check out the new and improved gameplay and try out new playstyles and new animations when EA FC 24 drops on September 29. Drop in, pick your squad, try out Ultimate Team, and more in-game! It’s available for PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5.
